HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, Current federal funding for research on muscular
 1-2     dystrophy is insufficient given the disease's prevalence and
 1-3     severity, and this level of support does little to promote advances
 1-4     in research and treatment of the disease; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, The term muscular dystrophy encompasses a large
 1-6     group of hereditary muscle-destroying disorders that appear in men,
 1-7     women, and children of every race and ethnicity, with the most
 1-8     common disorder, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, first appearing in
 1-9     early childhood or adolescence; and
1-10           WHEREAS, Furthermore, since genetic mutations may be a factor
1-11     in any incidence of muscular dystrophy, anyone could be a carrier,
1-12     and no family is immune from the possibility of the disease
1-13     afflicting one of its members; and
1-14           WHEREAS, While the prognosis for individuals afflicted with a
1-15     muscular dystrophy disorder varies according to patterns of
1-16     inheritance, the age of onset, the initial muscles attacked, and
1-17     the progression of the disease, Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the
1-18     most common fatal childhood genetic disease; and
1-19           WHEREAS, Because muscular dystrophy varies widely from one
1-20     disorder to another, continuing research is important to
1-21     understanding the disease, treating it, and working toward its
1-22     prevention and cure; and
1-23           WHEREAS, Congressional funding for research by the National
1-24     Institutes of Health on Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy does
 2-1     not reflect the severity of this disease, the importance of finding
 2-2     a cure, or the potential benefits that research in this area could
 2-3     have on other similar disorders; and
 2-4           WHEREAS, To save lives and improve the quality of life for
 2-5     those already afflicted by this disease, it is imperative that the
 2-6     federal government take the initiative to increase funding for the
 2-7     research of Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy; now, therefore,
 2-8     be it
 2-9           RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas
2-10     hereby respectfully urge the Congress of the United States to
2-11     increase funding for research by the National Institutes of Health
2-12     for the treatment and cure of Duchenne and Becker muscular
2-13     dystrophy; and, be it further
2-14           RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official
2-15     copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to
2-16     the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of
2-17     the senate of the United States Congress, and to all the members of
2-18     the Texas delegation to the congress with the request that this
2-19     resolution be officially entered in the Congressional Record as a
2-20     memorial to the Congress of the United States of America.
                                                                    Marchant
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.C.R. No. 8 was adopted by the House on April
         20, 2001, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.C.R. No. 8 was adopted by the Senate on May
         8, 2001, by a viva-voce vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  __________________________
                              Date
                    __________________________
                            Governor